“Is there any other microbe that anybody else likes better than this one that is in competition with your microbe?” asked Rep. Vicki Berger of Salem.

“I’m not aware of any other microbes that generate $2.4 billion for the state economy,” Johnson responded.

What about brewers of lager beers, wondered Rep. Michael Dembrow of Portland. Those brewers use other varieties.

Not to worry, answered Ian Croxall, who owns Santiam Brewing Company and came to support Johnson.

“Ale yeast is the type of yeast that is used in the majority of the ales brewed by the Oregon craft brewing industry,” Croxall said. “I don’t believe there are any lager brewers, including myself, who would be offended at acknowledging Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the predominant yeast for brewing.”

The House Rules Committee approved the measure without opposition and sent it to a floor vote.